Severe weather headed for Ingham County area

East Lansing resident Sema’J Benson, 2, walks with umbrella in hand with his mother Judy Torp behind him, Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in Lansing as the two walk across a parking lot, about to board a Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, bus that previously was suspended due to a tornado warning issued to Ingham County Tuesday afternoon. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue until Sunday. Justin Wan/The State News

Ingham County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management issued a severe weather outlook alert for Wednesday July 12, warning residents of potential factors which could brew into a severe storm.

“A very strong (especially for July) system is coming our way,” the alert stated Tuesday. “Assuming the overnight activity clears out as expected by Wednesday morning, the heat is on during the day. The humidity will be high as well, and winds will be strong.”

But the vague alert has now grown into multiple, detailed alerts on Facebook beginning at 7 a.m., which advised Ingham County residents of possible flooding rains and damaging winds coupled with the chance of a tornado.

As for East Lansing, City Manager George Lahanas said yesterday the city has discussed the potential weather internally and would be checking with the city’s fire chief on possible preparations the city may need to take.

“They’re going to be tracking the weather cautiously and carefully and they're going to be coordinating with any sort of operations that need to be coordinated,” Lahanas said of emergency operations center.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., the Ingham HSEM alerted residents of a line of thunderstorms headed through the middle of the county which have already dumped an inch of rain. Due to the slow movement of the storm, Ingham HSEM advised of potential flooding issues.

At 10:26 a post alerted Mason residents of an intense thunderstorm rife with toreential rains, gusty winds and frequent lighitng heading their way. One Mason resident on Facebook confirmed the storm’s arrival.

At 10:10 a.m. the next alert cautioned new showers and thunderstorms approaching western Michigan which would dissipate in the the afternoon but leave a chance for severe weather in the evening.

At 7 a.m. the Ingham HSEM advised of possible flooding heading to Ingham County and what might lie ahead for residents.